mercurio | 〈 recolle ic contact 〉

[prompto's happy to go get the coffee, as they take a break from going about the mall. to be honest? prompto just wants to make their time out in the mall last as long as possible, even letting noctis buy him a few things here and there so it doesn't seem so suspicious that he's asking his best friend to follow him into every single store. noct's been following him, so when the other takes the initiative and steps into the music shop, prompto's happy to let him have it.]

[their bags are with noct, and prompto is about heading back, wondering if noctis is about done... but hears instead really nice music.]

[he thinks, damn, they've got really nice music going. he tells the employee, who says it's fine he goes in with the covered coffee cups, but mentions that it's actually his friend playing the piano.]

[noctis?]

[playing the piano?]

[prompto approaches the grand piano quietly and watches with amazement as noctis plays, no frown of difficulty on his expression, his hands swimming between the keys in perfect harmony, in rehearsed movements. it's beautiful.]

[it's only when the song comes to an end that prompto speaks up]

...didn't know you knew how to play the piano. [his smile is crooked, but his eyes are shiny with excitement] That was beautiful, Noct.

[ It's been a while since he's played-- At least since before the incident and he'd fallen ill. The few slip-ups Noctis has are merely from unpracticed hands, but the melody comes back to him with surprising ease. It's... Comforting, knowing that his memory isn't as damaged as he'd feared. Little things like this make him feel significantly less damaged, and so the melody starts cautious and shy, but slowly starts to carry a flow of confidence and strength. The notes become louder over time, his hands no longer stiff or uncertain. Noctis allows himself to get lost in his playing, rather comfortable despite doing this in public.

It reminds him a lot of the time spent practicing with his father. Practice was one of the few times he'd gotten to spend quality time with Regis. He fondly recalls the praise, the music room of their home, how his feet couldn't quite reach the pedals as a young boy, so he was always half-seated, half-standing. Once, he played this song for his nurses in the pediatric hospital during an extended stay.

When it's done, he lets his fingers slip off the keys, and he nearly jolts when he realizes Prompto had been watching. ]

Oh--

[ He wears a lopsided smile and shrugs. ]

Among a couple other instruments, yeah.

Thanks.

[ For the compliment or the coffee? Who knows? But he's grabbing his drink from Prompto. ]

[among a couple other instruments? wow]

You never said...

[it's thrilling though, as prompto maneuvers the right cup towards noctis, because despite everything noctis has been through and despite knowing him from before, this was a little fact that prompto had not been particular about, not even before he went down in a coma]

I only know how to play the recorder. From back in school. Probably forgot by now...

[an excited smile on his face, he sits down besides noctis, suddenly, and sets the coffee cup down on the floor]

Can you teach me something real quick?

[ Noctis takes a quick sip of his coffee, wrinkling his nose because Prompto didn't put any sugar in it. Oh well! He'll see to that later. He places the cup on the floor and scoots over to make room.]

Not like you ever asked.

[ But yeah, it's not something he talks about. It's a hobby. He says it with the same soft smile, which is changed to something of curiosity when Prompto asks to be taught something. ]

Ah. Sure, here.

[ Noctis can think of something pretty simple, and he points to a particular set of keys. ]

Okay. Watch my hand.

[ He taps a few keys, starting the first portion of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star slow. When he lifts his hand, he gestures for Prompto to replace it. ]

Just like that.

[prompto recognises that song. twinkle twinkle lit--, no, he needs to focus! he loses track of what noct is doing but then carefully pays close attention, and once the other is done, prompto thinks he's got this]

[his expression is the most focused prompto's ever been, as he replaces noct's hand and attempts to follow the pattern of keys...]

[he starts alright, but messes up towards the fourth of fifth note]

[frowning, he tries again...]

[ This is actually kinda... Fun? Noctis laughs softly when Prompto doesn't get the last couple notes right. Quietly, he reaches over and does it again, this time adding the second part. ]

Edited 2017-07-26 23:38 (UTC)

Tu, tu...

[he tries keeping up, pressing the keys after noctis gives him a chance to do so]

--okay, I keep messing up there. What am I doing wrong?

You keep skipping that last key over there. Here.

[ Noctis puts his hand over Prompto's, bearing little weight as it practically hovers over his, meant to guide his fingers himself. ]

And...

[ He gently pushes Prompto's fingers down one by one to follow the melody. ]

[he gets it now. his fingers match the tune with noct's help, and he's turning his head to smile brightly at the other]

Let me try!

[gently waves noct's hand away, so he can start playing from the top. and, this time, he gets all the keys right]

--hell yeah! [his quiet cheer]

[ Noctis happily takes his hand away when Prompto catches on. His smile is oddly contagious, given that he didn't think this kind of thing was a big deal. But Prompto takes it from the top and plays the entire thing without difficulty. He quietly watches, letting him do his thing until he rests his hands back on the keys.

Noctis laughs at Prompto's cheer, and decides to add some extra music to this. He watches his friend's hands and waits for the right time to join in, providing an extra tune to play alongside him. ]

[prompto catches on to what noctis is doing, and so he keeps the same keys playing on loop, a very focused look on his fingers to make sure he doesn't fuck up the song noctis is trying to make out of this]

[until it ends, and prompto feels his cheeks hurting from how much he's smiling]

Dude, that was really cool!

[a playful shove onto noctis's shoulder]

[ It's simple, but the song that comes out of this is actually pretty nice. It goes on for a couple minutes, until they eventually come to a mutual stop. Noctis smiles to himself for a moment until Prompto nudges his shoulder, and he turns to see just how happy he's made his friend.

Honestly he... Can't say he's ever had something like this before. Such a close friend to do stupid things with. Where he's always been closed in on himself and shut out, Prompto comes around and changes all of that.

His chest twists... Noctis isn't entirely sure what for, but he supposes this is just what comes with having an actual best friend. He doesn't feel alone or awkward around him. Noctis chuckles meekly, wobbling when he's nudged. His face is a bit warm, perhaps a bit red. But he doesn't pay any mind or thought to it. ]

You did pretty good.

[prompto's laugh is abashed, as he scratches the back of his neck and moves around, as if fidgeting, on the seat. and then, almost as if he just remembered, he pulls out his phone and moves so he can lean in and put his arms around his shoulders]

Let's take a selfie.

[this comes hand in hand with being prompto's friend]

Smile!

[ Noctis is pretty acclimated to the whole shutterbug deal with Prompto. He's used to having a camera shoved in his face, and he's used to stopping for Prompto so he can snap a quick photo. When he whips out his phone, he sort of expects it.

He's just struggling to not be flustered right now, which doesn't make much sense to him. But he lets Prompto pull him in and holds up a peace-sign with his meek little smile. ]

[prompto's happy with their haul of pictures so far in this day, and after he takes the selfie, he goes through his album to at least 20 other pictures of them in the mall...]

I think this might be my favorite one. I'll send it to you later, 'kay?

[he gets up, putting his phone away, and then smiles down at noctis--then remembers his coffee is under the chair and so gets down to get it]

You wanna get something from here, or ready to go home?

[ Odd as the feelings are, Noctis doesn't worry about it. He's just not used to having such a close friend in his life! ]

Yeah, sure. I'd like that.

[ He's kind of excited about it.

Noctis gets up with Prompto and grabs his coffee and bags. ]

We can head back if you want. Think I got everything I needed. You?

[from down here on the floor]

Yeah, think so too.

[and up he goes, stretching and keeping his coffee steady somehow]

Let's get some food and go back? Could eat a whole buffalo right about now.

[ He swings the bags over his shoulder, leading the way out. ]

Sit down somewhere or take-out?

Edited 2017-07-27 03:17 (UTC)

Well, the lines are hilariously long right now.

[sure is close to dinner time, as it were]

So if we order online while we head back to your place, it might be there by the time we get there. Unless you wanna stay?

[ Noctis shrugs, coming down from that weird, flustered period. They make their way to the parking lot, close to his car. ]

Nah, I'm good. Ordering online is fine.

You-- Crap. Can you fish my keys out of my pocket?

[ His hands are full. Noctis turns on his heel to show his lanyard dangling from his front pocket. ]

You crashing at my place?

Mmm, you should just let me drive.

[he fishes out the keys from his pocket, smiling and twirling them on his fingers]

What? Afraid I'll crash your car?

[ Noctis raises a brow. ]

Oh.

Forgot I gave you the valet key.

[ And then, he shrugs. ]

Fine by me. Open the trunk.

[excitedly, prompto does a whoop in the air and presses a button on the key to open the trunk. fancy cars are so fantastic, you barely need to do anything?!]

[and then he's getting inside on the driver's side, putting his coffee down in the cupholder. key in the ignition, he turns it on, and presses the button to push back the roof.]

[as soon as noctis is in] --have I told you that you've got the sweetest ride ever?

[ Noctis throws the bags in the trunk and comes around to the passenger seat, plopping down with a sigh. ]

A few times.

[ It is a pretty sweet ride. Noctis absolutely loves his car, especially considering it was a going-away gift from his old man. He's taken pretty good care of it, which is stark contrast to his apartment.

He takes a sip of his coffee, forgetting that it's barely sweetened, and he recoils with the wrinkle of his nose. ]

Augh--

Dude, there's hardly any sugar in this.

[prompto does what he needs to get the car out of the parking space and consequently the parking lot; they're on the road easy enough, and prompto's fidgety on the seat, even as he looks both ways before moving forward.]

Yeah, you don't need any more sugar.

Thought I'd do you a favor. [he grins, but then starts laughing] You took mine, actually. I didn't feel like correcting you.

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